Improvement in wheels for vehicles



W1TNESSES.

2Sheet s--Sheet.1. J. C. HURLEY.

Wheels for Vehicles.

No.135,119. Patentedjan.21,1873.

INVENTQR.

WM, Fig.3. wfimww 2 Sheets Sheet 2. .1.'C.HUHLEY.

Wheels for Vehicles.

N0.135,119 Patentedlan.21,1873.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR.

AM PHOT0-UTH06RAFHIO m m. (omen/11s.; Pnacsss) UNITED STATES PATENTQFFICE.

JEREMIAH o. HURLEY, or CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN WHEELS FOR VEHICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,119, dated January21, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEREMIAH C. HUR- LEY, of Cincinnati, in the countyof Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and valuableImprovement in Wheel-Hubs; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operationof the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing making a part ofthis specification, and to the letters and figures of reference markedthereon.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a representation of a longitudinal centralsection of my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the spoke. Fig. 3 isa transverse central section. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are modifications.

My invention has relation to certain improvements in carriage-wheels;and it consists in the construction and novel arrangement of notchedspokes, and of the radiallypartitioned hub-bands andcircumferentiallygrooved hub, substantially as hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawing, A designates a wooden carriage-hub,constructed with a circumferential groove, B, to receive the ends of thespokes, and provided with a slotted hubband, 0, having radial partitionsD between the slots. These radial partitions may be either of oblong,rectangular, or of double-convex, elliptic, or diamond form. To fit therectangular partitions the spokes are constructed as shown in Fig. 6.The hub end of said spoke is made tapering, so that the sides of theadjoining spokes, when fitted to the hub, may coincide and have a radialrelation to the hub center. The extremity of the spoke is cut to aconcavity to adapt it to the bottom of the grooved surface of the hub.In the end of the spoke, in the direction of its length, is out I aslot, G, nearly corresponding to the form of the rectangular partition,but made with one side slightly oblique with respect to the other, thusgiving the slot a gradual expansion toward the adjacent end of thespoke. From said end of the spoke into the slot is cut a strait orpassage, H, which is narrower than the slot, and has one of its wallscoinciding with one of the walls or sides of the slot, the otherterminating in a shoulder, h. The spokes are driven into the hub-band insuch a manner as to straddle or embrace within their slots the radialpartitions, which are admitted through the passages H. The sides of thespokes having the shoulders h are sprung to the proper positions by thepressure of each of the other sides against the shouldered side of theadjacent spoke, the plain sides assuming at once their appropriateradial positions. By this pressure the mortises are closed and thespokes caused to closely embrace the. partitions. The slots are slightlylonger than the partitions in order to allow the latter to settle.

Fig. 2 illustrates the spoke adapted to the form of the diamond shapedpartitions L, being constructed with a diamond-shaped slot, t, and witha tapering mortise, t, proceeding toward the center thereof, thusproducing a double shoulder, z 2, equivalent to the shoal der h of theother spoke. The purpose of these shoulders is obviously to give thespokes firmness, and prevent them from being drawn out.

The hub-band may be cast in one piece, or in sections, connected bymeans of rivets or bolts.

I am well aware that slotted spokes are not new; therefore do not claimsuch invention broadly; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is--- The spoke having its inner end tapering and provided with the slotG, shoulder h, and passage H, in combination with the hub-band 0 havingthe radial partitions D, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

. JEREMIAH O. HURLEY. Witnesses:

JNO. RANGEVAN, PETER OAs'rNER.

